Oryx
- Oryx / Volume 45 / Issue 01 / January 2011, pp 125-128
- Copyright © Fauna & Flora International 2011
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0030605310001456 (About DOI), Published online: 01 February 2011
Short Communications
Female tiger Panthera tigris home range size in the Bangladesh Sundarbans: the value of this mangrove ecosystem for the species’ conservation
Adam C.D. Barlowa1 p1 c1, James L.D. Smitha1, Ishtiaq U. Ahmada2 p2, Abu N.M. Hossaina2, Mizan Rahmana3 and Alam Howladera3
a1 Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA.
a2 Forest Department of Bangladesh, Agargaon, Dhaka, Bangladesh
a3 Sundarbans Tiger Project, Khulna, Bangladesh
Abstract
Basic information required to conserve wild tigers Panthera tigris is lacking for the Bangladesh Sundarbans. The objectives of this study were therefore to estimate tiger home range size and obtain information on movement. Two adult female tigers were captured in the south-east of the Sundarbans and fitted with global positioning system collars. Mean home range sizes for the two tigers estimated with 95% minimum convex polygon and fixed kernel methods were 12.3 and 14.2 km2, respectively. A mean female home range size of 14.2 km2 would indicate a density for the south-east Sundarbans of seven adult females per 100 km2. The maximum distance moved by a tiger in 1 day was 11.3 km. Although preliminary these home range estimates indicate that the Sundarbans of Bangladesh has good quality tiger habitat relative to other tiger landscapes, highlighting the value of this mangrove ecosystem for the survival of this Endangered species.
(Received June 08 2010)
(Reviewed July 27 2010)
(Accepted August 26 2010)
(Online publication February 01 2011)
Keywords
Correspondence:
c1 Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA. E-mail adambarlow75@gmail.com
p1 Current address: Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK, and Wildlife Trust of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh
p2 Also at: Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Biology, University of Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA
